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Click on link below for further immunization information on:

• Pertussis Immunization Program
• Influenza Immunization Program
• International Travel Centre Services
• Vaccine Preventable Diseases
• Vaccine Information
• Child Health Clinic Locations
• Saskatchewan Immunization Management System (SIMS)
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Resources

Starting the week of July 5, 2010 all new mothers and other primary caregivers of infants born April 1, 2010 and later are eligible for one free dose of Tetanus, Diphtheria, Pertussis vaccine (Tdap). 

Click here for more information.

Immunization is a way of providing protection against diseases caused by viruses or bacteria.  A vaccine is a substance that stimulates the immune system to produce antibodies against a specific disease without getting the actual disease.  Immunization helps to build immunity against communicable diseases that your body has trouble fighting on its own.

Immunization helps prevent serious diseases and the outcomes of diseases.  Outcomes may be small such as scars from chicken pox (varicella), or severe such as brain damage or death from meningitis.

Immunizations contain tiny amounts of the bacteria or viurses that make your immune system produce certain proteins called 'antibodies'.  Antibodies can attack and destroy viruses and bacteria.  Your immune system remembers how to make these antibodies.  Later, when your body is exposed to that same bacteria or virus, it 'remembers' how to make these antibodies.  Your body then makes the antibodies and stops the virus or bacteria from making you sick.

Immunization is a safe, reliable and effective method of protecting individuals, families, and communities from vaccine preventable diseases.  It is important to achieve and maintain high immunization rates in order to provide the best protection against these diseases.

Did you know?

• Before measles vaccine there were about 370 cases each year for 100,000 people.  After the measles vaccine was provided there was less than 1 case per 100,000 people.  That is a decrease of 99.95%.

• Pertussis (whooping cough) is present in our community.  In SHR there has been an average of 35 cases in the past 5 years.

Immunization Coverage Rates in

Saskatoon Health Region

In SHR, 76% of children turning 2 years of age are up-to-date on childhood immunizations.  To fully protect your child and our community, immunization coverage rates of 85% are needed.

Immunization coverage rates tell us the percentage of peole who receive one or more immunization in a certain population.  We measure immunization coverage to:

• identify how many people are protected from vaccine-preventable diseases,
• identify neighbourhoods or populations that have low coverage rates and to explore reasons why rates are low.

In SHR, we routinely measure immunization coverage for children turning 2 years of age.  Click here for graphs showing immunization coverage rates for 2 year olds in Saskatoon Health Region.

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(updated August 11, 2010)